Starter control apparatus



Feb. 23, 1954 P. 1.. SCHNEIDER STARTER CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1951 T0 IGNITION THROTTLE OPERATED SUCTION CONTROLLED 5W1 TC H.

Paul L Schnenclar BY MM.

Patented Feb. 23, 1954 STARTER CONTROL APPARATUS Paul L. Schneider, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application June 22, 1951, Serial No. 233,031

20 Claims.

1 This invention relates to starting apparatus for internal combustion engines, particularly automotive engines, and especially to the semiautomatic type of starting apparatus in which the starter circuit is closed by operation of one of the control elements employed to control the operation of the vehicles such as the carburetor throttle, for example, and is maintained in open condition by engine suction when the engine is self-operative.

More particularly the invention relates to the construction of a control switch used in a starting apparatus of the type referred to which is maintained in open state by action of engine suction, but is both closed and opened by manual operation and is an improvement on a device of this kind disclosed in the patent to Dermond No 2,326,125, granted August 10, 1943.

In the device of the Dermond patent, a blocking member which is moved by engine suction to a position to prevent closing of the switch when the engine is operating under its own power is carried by a suction operated piston, or diaphragm, but is normally engaged when the switch is closed by the hooked end of one of the switch contacts which is designed to hold the blocking member against movement until the switch is manually opened, the opening of the switch effecting release of the blocking member by the contact so that it may be moved to its blocking position by the suction operated member. Some difliculty was encountered with switches such as disclosed in the patent for the following reasons.

Under some circumstances the diaphragm, or

piston used to move the blocking member to ef- Y fective position when the contact is moved to release the blocking member and the engine is self-operative, proved insuflicient to move the piston against the force of its return spring and other forces opposing its movement. If a lighter return spring was employed, this sometimes proved inadequate to return the blocking member to its effective position when it should have been so returned. If'a large enough diaphragm was employed, to move the blocking member under all circumstances, it was found that in some instances such diaphragm exerted so much force that the end of the contact, which is employed to hold the blocking member against movement, was bent and the latter moved to its eflective position before the contact, was moved to release it. This not only damaged the device,

control apparatus of the character described, a control switch adapted to be closed by operation of the throttle and having a member movable by engine suction to which is attached a control element movable when the engine is self-operative to a position in which it will prevent any closing of the control switch. and wh ch is so arranged that the suction operated member is movable in response to en ine suction when the engine be ins to run, without moving the switch controlling element, and in which the latter will remain in its inoperative position under all circumstances until manually released when the throttle is actuated to open the control switch, but which under no possible circumstances can damage the contact of said control switch during movement by the suction operated member.

A further feature of the invention is an improved means for adiustably mounting the movable contact of the control switch on the throttle shaft.

Further ob ects and advanta es of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a starter control system in which a control switch constructed in accordance with the present invention is employed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, of the control switch of the present invention attached to the carburetor with which it is associated.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the contact member in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1 the entire control circuit of a starting apparatus in which the control switch of the present invention is adapted to be used is shown. In such figure, 25 designates a generator grounded at 2! and connected by a wire 22 with the current winding 23 of a reverse current relay 24. Winding 23 is connected with the frame 25 of relay 24, which frame su ports a leaf spring hinge 25 to which one end of the armature 2'! is attached. Armature 2'! carries a contact 28 engageable with its stationary contact 29 carried by bracket scconnected by wire 3| with an ammeter 32 connected by wires 33 and 34 with 31 is connected with the relay frame and is grounded at 3B. The frame 25 supports a core 39 which is surrounded by the windings 23 and 37 although these windings are shown in the drawing as separated from the core 35. The relay contacts 28 and 29 are closed to complete the battery charging circuit by the magnetic action produced by current flowing through the voltage winding 3'! after the generator has a tained a certain voltage. When the contacts 28. and29 are closed, current then flows through the winding 23 which then cooperates with winding 37 to hold the armature 2'5 in position to maintain the contact 28 in engagement with the contact 29. It is therefore apparent that therelay can be adjusted so that its contacts will not be separated due to the action of the spring hinge 26 until after the voltage of the generator has fallen substantially below that voltage required for the closing of the relay contacts 28 and 29.

The main engine cranking circuit comprises the battery 35, wire 34, switch contact 45, movable contact 4%, switch contact 42', wire 43, starting motor 44 which is grounded at 45, and battery ground connection 35. The starting motor 44 operates the shaft. 45 along which slides a sleeve 4'5 which is splined on the shaft 46 and which is operatively connected through a one way or overrunning clutch 48 with a pinion 49 engageable with the engine flywheel gear 5%. The sleeve 4! is surrounded by a grooved collar 5| which is slidable along the sleeve 47 but normally is held against a shoulder 52 at the left end of the sleeve 4! by a spring 53 interposed between the collar 5! and the clutch 48. The collar 51 is caused to move toward the right in the drawing by lever 54 pivotally mounted upon a shaft 55 and carrying at its lower end a pin 55 received by the groove of the collar 5|. Movement of the lever 54 counterclockwise will cause the sleeve 41 to be moved toward the right and the pinion 49 to become engaged with the flywheel gear 50. The pinion 49 is withdrawn from the gear by the operation of a spring 5! which surrounds the shaft and bears at one end against a stationary stop 58 and at the other against a stop 59 carried by the lever 54.

The lever 54 is actuated and the switch 4D, 4!, 42 is closed by electromagnetic means which comprises a solenoid core 69 and a solenoid armature E! which are surrounded by electromagnet windings 62 and 63. The solenoid core 69 is provided with a central bore for receiving a horizontally slidable plunger or rod 64 on which the contact 4| is movably supported between two springs. The solenoid armature 6| is connected by a pin M with a link 15 which carries a stud 15 received by a slot 11 provided in the upper end of the lever 54.

When suflicient current passes through the windings 62 and 53, the armature 5! is caused to move. toward the left in order to eifect counterclockwise movement of the lever 54 and the movement of the pinion 49 into mesh with the engine gear 59. This movement of the solenoid Bl also causes the rod 64 to move to the left carrying with it the switch contact 4! which is yieldingly pressed into engagement with the contacts 49 and 42. When this occurs, current will now from the batteryto the motor 44, thereby causing rotation of its armature shaft 45 and the pinion 49 driven thereby through the splined sleeve 4'! and the overrunning clutch 48, thereby causing the flywheel gear 50 to rotate and the engine to be 4 cranked for starting purposes. Should the engine fail to start and the pinion 49 fail to be withdrawn from the flywheel gear 59 by the action of the spring 51, it is possible to open the circuit of the starting motor by disconnecting the magnet coil windings 62 and 63 from the storage battery, the connections to which are to be described later. When the magnet coils 62 and 5'3'are deenergized, movement of the contact 4i away from the contacts 40 and 42 may take place due to the fact that the solenoid 6| may move toward the right slightly although the lever 54 may not be turned. This is possible due to the lost motion connection provided by the pin 16 and the slot 1'! between the solenoid armature SI and the lever 54.

Shouldthe end faces of the teeth of the pinion 49 abut with, the end faces of the gear 50 before meshing it is possible to close the motor circuit in order that the pinion 49 may be rotated into meshing relation with the engine gear 50. This is possible due. to the fact that the switch contacts 40, 4!, 42 canbe closed before the meshing of pinion 4.9. with gear 50 takes place. The solenoid armature 61 moves to close the motor switch and to move the pinion 49 toward the gear 55; but, after the pinion 49? collides with the gear 55, the spring 53 is compressed beyond its initial state of compression. Then when the motor shaft 49 turns to relieve the condition of gear tooth abutment, the spring 53 is released quickly to snap or jump the pinion 49 into engagement with the engine gear 59.

The circuit for connecting the magnet windings E2 and 63 with the storage battery 35 comprises the following circuit: battery 35, wire 34,

contact 48, frame 8! of the starter control relay t l, leaf spring hinge'82, armature 83, contact 84, stationary contact 85., bracket wire 81, winding 63, ground connection 88' and battery ground connection 35. The circuit of the other winding 52 includes the foregoing circuit asfar as the bracket. 86. From the bracket 86 a wire 55 leads out to connect with the coil 52 which is connected by wire 900: with the contact 42. The circuit of coil 52 is completed to the battery through the motor 44 and ground connections 45 and 35. It is apparent that when the contacts 84 and 35 of the starter relay 8% are closed, current will flow through both windings 62 and 63' to cause the solenoid 6! to move toward the left in order to shift the pinion 49 into engagement with the gear 50 and to close the switch contacts 43, 4|, 42. When the motor switch closes, the winding 62 will be short circuited. The winding 52 is made preferably of relatively coarse wire whereas the winding 63 is constructed of relatively fine wire. Both windings 62 and 53 are required to draw the armature 6! across to the core 69 but, when this relation has been established, the one winding 53 is all that is required to maintain this relationship. Therefore, the winding 62 which consumes the greater amount of current is short circuited so that the starting 'motor will have adequate current for cranking the engine.

The operation of the'relay an is controlled in part by the ignition switch 93 and a switch 94 which are in series, the switch 94 being closed by the carburetor throttle to effect starting and prevented from closing during engine operation by action of engine suction. To. this end, one

terminal 95 of the ignitionswitch is connected tothe wire. 3i leadingtothe battery; briawire 8%, while another terminal 9! is. connected, by wire 98 to one ofthe contacts of the switchj94, while another contact of" this switch isconnected by wire 99 to the winding I of the relay 80 and this winding is connected by wire IIII with bracket I 62 supporting contact I03 adapted to engage contact I04 carried by bracket 21 of the cut out relay and connected by wire I05 with the ground connection 38. The movable contact I05 of the ignition switch will engage terminals 95 and 91 when the switch is closed and obviously when the contacts I03 and I34 are in engagement with the ignition switch and switch 94 closed, the winding I00 will be energized. This will cause engagement of contacts 84 and 85 and operation of the main magnet to close the starting motor circuit. When contacts I03 and I04 are separated by action of the generator, the winding 80 cannot be energized and the starting motor circuit cannot be closed.

The starter control apparatus previously described, but using a control switch of somewhat different form from the switch 94 is disclosed in the Dyer et a1. Patent 2,105,723, granted January 18, 1938, and need not be further described herein.

Coming now to the construction and operation of the switch 94, such switch is contained in a housing IIIi, having a top III, secured to the housing by screws H2 and a removable plate I I3, provided to permit access to the space within the housing, is secured in position by screws 'II4. These screws may also secure the housing to a boss II5 formed on the outside of a carburetor intake passage IIG which is controlled by a throttle valve I I1 secured to a throttle shaft II 8 which is rotatably mounted and extends through the boss and into the-switch housing I I 9. A gasket I I9 is positioned between the boss and the housing while a bushing I provides a bearing for shaft H8 in the wall of the switch housing. The housing may be secured to the carburetor in any other suitable way.

Secured to the housing I I0 and insulated therefrom are contact members I2! and I22 supporting binding posts I23 and I24, respectively, to which the wires 99 and 58 are respectively connected, as shown in Fig. 1. These contact members are secured to the housing by rivets I25 and I23 respectively, which electrically connect such contacts to contacts I21 and I28 respectively, which are insulated from the housing. The contacts I21 and I28 are resilient members extending upwardly from the bottom of housing III] and wipe on the peripheral surface of a movable contact member designated generally by the reference number I 30 which is mounted on the throttle shaft I I 8 for rotation therewith.

This movable contact includes a cylindrical piece of insulating material I3I, having a projecting lug I32 which engages the contact I21 when the throttle is closed and an outer metal sleeve I33 through which the lug I32 projects. The insulating material I3I is received on a reduced portion I34 of shaft H8 and is held in position thereon by any suitable locking means such as a lock washer I35 and a nut I36 screwed on the threaded end I3'I of shaft H8. The nut clamps the movable contact assembly against ashoulder I38 in any desired position relative to the closed position of the throttle.

The contact I28 rests on the metal sleeve I33 in all positions of the throttle but when the throttle is closed, as shown in Fig. 3, contact I 2! is engaged by lug I 32 so that the switch is open. As the throttle is moved toward open position, the movable contact is rotated counterclockwise as seen and after a predetermined movement of the throttle, the extent of which is controlled by the position of the movable contact on shaft II8, lug I32 is moved out vof engagement with the contact I21 and the bent projection I4!) is permitted to engage the sleeve I33, the upper end of contact I 21 moving to a position indicated by the dot and dash line in Fig. 3, when this occurs. In such position of contact I2I both it and contact I28 engage the sleeve I33 to close the switch.

The switch is prevented from closing when the engine operates under its own power by engage ment of the bent over toe I4I on the upper end of contact I21 with the periphery of a piston I42 which, when the engine is not running, is held in the position shown in Fig. 3, where it will be below the toe MI in order that the switch may be closed and the engine started. As already stated, when the engine is to be started the lug I32 is moved. When the engine first starts to run, the piston is lifted by suction until it engages the toe MI and will not move further until the throttle is moved to idle position, which causes lug I32 to disengage toe I4I from the piston. This permits the suction to lift said piston to the dotted line position of Fig. 3, where its periphery will be engaged by the toe MI and it will not be allowed to return to its lower or inoperative position until the engine ceases to be self-operative.

To this end the piston I42 is slidably supported on a pin I43 carried by a diaphragm I44, the outer edge of which is clamped between the housing H0 and the top or cover III. The pin may be secured to the diaphragm in any suitable way,

' but as shown, the pin has a reduced portion M5 at its upper end which forms a shoulder I46 between which and the diaphragm are washers I4? and I48 through which the part I45 extends. The latter also extends through a cupshaped element I49 that is positioned above the diaphragm and its end is riveted over the edge of said cup-shaped element as shown in Fig. 3, to hold the entire assembly together.

On the lower end of the pin I43 is a flange I53 projecting therefrom and between such flange and the piston I42 is a spring I5I which surrounds the pin as shown in Fig. 3. This arrangernent permits the diaphragm to be moved without moving the piston when the engine starts to run under its own power, the spring I5I being compressed by this movement so that when the piston is released, the spring will exert suflicient force to move the piston to its effective position. The piston I42 has a peripheral groove I52 which is adapted to be engaged by the toe I M of the contact I21 during self-operation of the engine, so that if the engine suction were to drop suificiently to permit a downward movement of the piston, such movement would be prevented by engagement of the toe I4I with said groove I52.

Received between a recess I53 in the top III and the cup-shaped element I49 is a spring I54 which is of sufiicient strength to return the parts to the Fig. 3 position under all circumstances when the engine stops and the throttle closes. The high suction which is maintained on the posterior or engine side of the throttle is communicated to the space above the diaphragm by a suction passage I55 in the boss I I5 which connects with a passage I56 in the housing IIil.

-which, in turn, connects with the passage I in the top or cover I I I, the passage connecting with the space above the diaphragm.

The operation of the device described should be obvious from the foregoing description. 'When the engine starts to operate, the diaphragm is moved in responseto suction without movin the piston which is held'i'n its'lower position by the toe MI and the spring I! is. compressed. When the engine is started, the throttle is re stored to idle position when the projecting lug ['32 moves the toe out of engagement with the piston. The spring l5l then expands, forcing the piston to move upwardly and, when the throttle is opened to increase the engine. speed, the lug 132 is moved out of engagement with the part MEI permitting movement of toe Ml to the right until it engages in. the groove I52 which is not a suificient movement for the part I40 to engage the metal sleeve 13.3 and close the switch. Engagement of the toe in this groove prevents any possible movement of the piston downwardly regardless of the extent to which the suction may drop above the diaphragm during engine operation, thus preventing any possible reclosing of the switch during self-operation of the engine.

In Fig. 4, a means for adjustably securing the contact member I39 onv the throttle shaft is shown. It is important that the contact member have the proper angular relation to the carburetor throttle so that the latter will be opened to the best position forstarting, when the control switch is closed. This position is not always the same, so that it is a matter of importance to provide a means for securing the contact member on its operating shaft which is so constructed that the contact member can be easily adjusted to the position where the best results are obtained and can be readily secured in that position, so that it will not move relative to the throttle shaft during operation.

To this end the block of insulating material 532 over which the metal sleeve I33 is fitted is mounted on an inner flanged sleeve its in fixed relation thereto. This sleeve is received on the reduced portion l34 of the throttle shaft and is rotatable thereon if the nut I33 is loosened, but is held tight against a shoulder lei when the nut is tightened, while it is. also held against any possible rotation relative to the shaft by means which will now be described.

The right end of the block of insulating material, as seen in Fig. 4, is recessed at IE2, as

shown in Fig. 5, to receive a washer I63 of lead or other suitable deformable material and projecting lugs or tangs Hi l, having sharp edges, project from the body of the insulating material into the recess [62 at positions 180 apart,

as shown in Fig. 5, and in dotted lines in Fig. l. To the right of the washer E63 isanother washer I65 of steel or other hard material which has a central opening of such a shape that it fits closely on the flattened portion [58 of' the throttle shaft and cannot rotate relative to such shaft. This washer also has sharp edged projecting lugs or tangs 157, one of which is shown in Fig. 4, and which are located 180 apart. To the right of this washer, between it and the nut 936 is an ordinary lock washer i35 to prevent loosening of the nut I36.

If the nut 23% is loosened sunlciently, the contact member I30 can be rotated on the throttle shaft to whatever position is most desirable and while held in this position, the ,nut 135 can be tightened, which will -force. the -.tangs. lift: and

It? to bite. into the soft washer itii, as shown in Fig. 4. Since the washer 165, on which the tangs lfi'l are formed, is: not rotatable relative to the; throttle shaft, engagement. of the tangs with the lead washer'will hold th contact member against any possible rotative movement relative to said shaft and the contact member is positively retained in any desired angular position relative to the throttle.

While the embodiment of the present invention as. herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is, claimed is as follows:

1. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines. having a starting motor, a cur rent source and a circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing said, switch, a member operable by the engine, control means movable by said member for controlling the effectiveness of said manually operatedmeans, said control means normally occupying a position to permit closing of the switch by said manually operable means and movable when the engine is self-operative to a position to render the manually operable means ineffective, means permitting movement of the engine operated member without accompanying movement of the control means and means operable by the manually operable means to enable a movement of the control means to a position where it prevents closing of the switch to be effected.

2. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing said switch, a member operable by the engine, control means movable by said member for controlling the. efiectiveness of said manually operated means, said control means normally occupying a position to permit closing of the switch by said manually operable means and movable when the engine is self-operative to a position to render the manually operable means inefiective, means permitting movement of the engine operated member without accompanying move-- ment of the control. means, means operable when the switch is closed to prevent movement of the control means with the engine operated member, and means actuated by the manually operated means to release said last named means so as to permit said control means to be moved to its effective position where it prevents closing of the switch.

3. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a. control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing and opening said switch, a member operable by the engine, control means movable by said member for controlling the effectiveness of said manually operated means, said control means normally occupying a position to permit closing of the switch by said manually operable means and movable when the en ine is self-operative to a position to render the manually operable means ineffective, means permitting movement of the engine operated member without accompanying movement of the control means, means operable when the switch is closed to prevent movement oi the. control means. with y the manually operated means when moved to open the switch to release the last. named means.

in order to permit the control means to be moved to its effective position where it prevents closing of the switch.

4. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing said switch, a member movable by engine suction when the engine becomes self-operative, a control means movable, in response to movement of said suction operated member, to a position where it renders the manually operable means ineffective to close said switch, means enabling the suction operated member to move in response to engine suction when the engine begins to run under its own power, without moving the control means to its effective position and means actuated by the manually operated means to enable such movement of said control means to be effected.

5. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing said switch, a member movable by engine suction when the engine becomes selfoperative, a control means movable, in response to movement of said suction operated member, to a position where it renders the manually operable means ineffective to close said switch, means enabling the suction operated member to move in response to engine suction when the engine begins to run under its own power, without moving the control means to its effective position, means for holding said control means against movement to its effective position when the engine starts to run under its own power and the suction operated member is moved in response to engine suction, and means whereby said holding means is moved by the manually operable means to render said holding means ineffective in order to enable a movement of said control means to its effective position to be ef- I fected.

6. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing and opening said switch, a member movable by engine suction when the engine becomes self-operative, a control means movable, in response to movement of said suction operated member, to a position where it renders the manually operable means ineffective to close said switch, means enabling the suction operated member to move in response to engine suction when the engine begins to run under its own power, without moving the control means to its effective position, means for holding said control means against movement to its effective position where the engine starts to run under its own power and the suction operated member is moved in response to the effect of engine suction, and means whereby the holding means is moved by the manually operable member, when moved to open the switch, so as to render said holding means ineffective in order to enable a movement of said control means to its effective position to be effected.

'7. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing said switch, a member movable by engine suction when the engine becomes self-operative, a control means movable, in response to movement of said suction operated member, to a position where it renders the manually operable means ineffective to close said switch, means enabling the suction operated member to move in response to engine suction when the engine begins to run under its own power, without moving the control means to its effective position, a latch engaging said control means and effective to hold it against movement to its effective position when the engine starts to run under its own power and the suction operated member is moved in response to engine suction, and means actuated by the manually operable means for disengaging said latch from the control means in order to enable a movement of the latter to its effective position to be effected.

8. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing and opening said switch, a member movable by engine suction when the engine becomes self-operative, a control means movable, in response to movement of said suction operated member, to a position where it renders the manually operable means inefiective to close said switch, means enabling the suction operated member to move in response to engine suction when the engine begins to run under its own power without moving the control means to its effective position, a latch engaging said control means and effective to hold it against movement to its effective position when the engine starts to run under its own power and the suction operated member is moved in response to engine suction, and means actuated by the manually operable member, when moved to open the switch, for disengaging said latch from said control means in order to enable a movement of the latter to its effective position to be effected.

9. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source. a carburetor for supplying combustible mixture to the engine and a throttle valve for regulating the quantity of such a mixture, a control switch for controlling said circuit having means operated by the throttle for closing said switch, a member operable by engine suction when the engine becomes self-operative, a control means movable in response to movement of said suction operated member, to a position where it renders the throttle operated means ineffective to close said switch. means enabling the suction operated member to move in response to engine suction without moving the control means to its effective position, means for holding said control means against movement to its effective position when the engine starts to run under its own power and the suction operated member is moved in response to engine suction, and means actuated by said throttle operated means for rendering said holding means ineffective in order to enable a movea ain connecting said motor with the current source, a carburetor for supplying combustible mixture to the engine and'a throttle valve for regulating the quantity of such mixture, a control switch for controlling said circuit having means operated by the throttle for opening and closing said switch, a member operable by engine suction when the engine becomes self-operative, a control means movable, in response to movement or" said suction operated member, to a position where it renders the throttle operated means ineffective to close said switch, means enabling the suction operated member to move in response to engine suction without moving the control means to its effective position, means for holding said control means against movement to its eiiective position when the engine starts to run under its own power and the suction operated member is moved in response to engine suction, and means actuated by said throttle operated means, when moved to open the switch, for rendering said holding means inefiective in order to enable a movement of said control means to its efiective position to be effected.

ll. 'In a start ng apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a carburetor for supplying combustible mixture to the engine and a throttle valve for regulating the quantity of such mixture, a control sw tch for controlling said circuit having means operated by the throttle for closing said switch, a member operableby engine suction when the engine becomes self-operative, a control means movable, in response to movement of "said suction operated member,to apostion where it renders the throttle operated means ineiiective to close said switch,

bustion engines "having a starting motor, a current source, a main starting motor circuit for connecting {said motor with the current source, a carburetor for supplying combustible mixture to the engine and a throttle valve for regulating the quantity of such mixture, a control switch for controlling said circuit having means operated by the throttle for opening and closing said switch, a member operable by engine suction when the engine becomes self-operative, a control means movable, in response to movement of said suction operated member, to a positionwhere it .renders the throttle operated means inefiective to close said switch, means enabling the suction operated member to move in response to engine suction without moving the control means tocits effective position, a latch engaging said control means and effective to hold it against movement to its effective position when the engine starts to run under its own power and means actuated by the throttle operated means, when moved to open said switch, for disengaging the latch from the control means in order to enable a movement of the latter to its effective position to be-efiected.

13. "In a starting apparatus for internal com- 1'2 bustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, and a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing said switch, a member movable by engine suction, a control means supported by said movable member and movable, in response to movement "of the suction operated member, to a position where it renders the manually operable means in'efiective, means permitting relative movement between said movable member and the control means, means for holding the control means against movement with the movable member when the latter is moved as the engine begins to operate under its own power, means actuated by the manually operable means 'for rendering said holding means'ineifective in order to permit movementof the control means to its efiective position, and means through which the suction operated member moves the control means to effective position when the holding means is rendered inoperative.

14. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, 2. current source, and a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for'controlling saidcircuit, manually operable means for closing said switch, a member movable by engine suction, a control means supported by said movable member and movable, in response to movement of the suction operated member, to a position where it renders the manually operable means inefiective, means permitting relative movement between said movable member and the control means, means for holding the control means against movement with the movable member when the latter is moved as the engine begins to operate under its own power, means actuated'by the manually operable means for rendering said holding means ineffective in order to permit movement of the control means to its eiiective position, and resilient means through which the suction operated member moves the control means to effective position when the holding means is rendered inoperative.

15. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, and a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for opening and closing said switch, a member movable by engine suction, a control means supported by said movable member and movable, in response to movement of the suction operated member, to a position where it renders the manually operable means ineffective, means permitting relative movement between said movable member and the control means, means for "holding the control means against movement with the movablemember whenthe latter is moved as the engine begins to operate under its own power, means actuated by the manually operable means, as it is moved to open the switch, for rendering said holding means ineffective in order to permit movement of the control means to its effective position, and means through which the suction operated member moves the control meansto effective position when the holding means is rendered inoperative.

V 16. In a starting apparatus'for internal combustion engines having "a starting motor, a current source, and a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, manually operable means for closing said switch, a member movable by engine suction, a control means supported by said movable member and movable, in response to movement of the suction operated member, to a position where it renders the manually operable means ineffective, means permitting relative movement between said movable member and the control means, a latch for engaging the control means to hold it against movement with the suction operated member when the latter is moved as the engine begins to operate under its own power, means actuated by the manually operated means for disengaging said latch in order to permit movement of the control means to effective position, and means through which the suction operated member moves the control means to effective position when the latch is released.

17. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a carburetor for supplying combustible mixture to the engine and a throttle valve for regulating the quantity of such mixture; a control switch for controlling said circuit having a contact member movable to a position to close said switch, a throttle operated shaft on which said contact member is adjustably supported and means for retaining said contact member in any adjusted position which comprises means for preventing movement of said contact member axially of its supporting shaft, tangs of substantially non-cleformable material projecting from said contact member, a washer of deformable material one face of which is engaged by said tangs, a washer of non-deformable material having tangs engaging said first named washer on the opposite face thereof, means for preventing rotation of said last named washer relative to the shaft, and means for exerting pressure on said last named washer in a direction to move it toward said limiting means, whereby said tangs are forced to bite into said deformable washer so as to hold said contact member against rotational movement relative to its supporting shaft.

18. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source, a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a carburetor for supplying combustible mixture to the engine and a throttle valve for regulating the quantity of such mixture; a control switch for controlling said circuit having a contact member movable to a position to close said switch, a throttle operated shaft on which said contact member is adjustably supported and means for retaining said contact member in any adjusted position which comprises means for limiting movement of said contact member axially of its supporting shaft, substantially rigid tangs projecting from said contact member, a lead washer, one face of which is engaged by said tangs, a steel washer having tangs engaging said lead washer on the opposite face thereof, means for preventing rotation of said steel washer relative to the shaft, and means for exerting pressure on said steel washer in a direction to move it toward said limiting means, whereby said tangs are forced to bite into the lead washer, so as to hold said contact member against rotational movement relative to its supporting shaft.

19. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, a member movable by engine suction, a supporting element extending therefrom, a control member slidable on said supporting element and movable to a position to prevent closing of the control switch when the engine is self-operative and the suction operated element has been moved by the effect of engine suction, means operative to hold the control member against movement with the suction operated means, resilient means for moving said control member to its effective position when said holding means is rendered inoperative, means for compressing said resilient means as said suction operated element is moved and means operative to render said holding means inoperative so that the control member can be moved to its efiective position after the engine is self-operative.

20. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having a starting motor, a current source and a main starting motor circuit for connecting said motor with the current source, a control switch for controlling said circuit, a member movable by engine suction, a supporting element extending therefrom, a control member slidable on said supporting element and movable to a position to prevent closing of the control switch when the engine is self-operative and the suction operated element has been moved by the effect of engine suction, means operative to hold the control member against movement with the suction operated means, a flange on said supporting element, resilient means for moving said control member to its effective position and located between said flange and the control member so as to be compressed by the suction operated element as the latter is moved while the control member is held against movement and means operable to release the holding means so that the resilient means is enabled to move the control element to effective position after the engine is operating under its own power.

PAUL L. SCHNEIDER.

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